Sloane Stephens booked her place in the last four at the 2018 WTA Finals with a commanding 6-3 6-3 win over Angelique Kerber.
The victory, which means that the American finishes top of the Red Group with three wins out of three, improves the World No.6’s impressive head-to-head record against the German to 5-1.
When you watch their matches, it is clear that Stephens has the perfect game to take on Kerber. She has the strength and movement to absorb the German’s attacking shots and the power to hit winners when the chances present themselves.
On another day, Kerber might have started the match in ideal fashion as she created five good opportunities to break in Stephens’ opening two service games. However, the American denied her every time by taking control of the break points and never giving the German a chance to hit the decisive shot.
Stephens then raised her game. She returned superbly to earn two break points in game five, and then clinched the break ruthlessly with a forehand winner.
Incredibly, Kerber had two chances to hit straight back in the next game. But, once again, Stephens pushed her back behind the baseline and prevented her from getting into positions she could hit winners from.
The German looked understandably rattled by her latest failure to break and she surrendered her serve to love to make it 5-2 to the American.
The set seemed over, but then it took another turn as Stephens squandered three set points. She then made her first error on a break point to give Kerber a lifeline in the set.
However, it was only a temporary reprieve for the World No.2. She was put under pressure by the 2017 US Open champion in the next game and she crumbled and dropped her serve for the third time in the set.
Stephens continues to dictate terms
Although Kerber survived a break point the first time she served in the second set, it was her second service game that proved crucial.
Stephens really attacked the German’s serve and earned a remarkable seven break points in the game. The World No.2 battled brilliantly to save six of them but eventually netted a backhand.
Kerber looked crushed and it seemed like the match was all but over when the American went 40-15 up on her serve in game five.
Somehow it did not work out that way as Stephens made a few errors to let the German back in and ended up dropping her serve.
After two routine holds, the drama resumed. Kerber played three horrible points to gift the World No.6 three break points, and then played three excellent points to drag the score back to deuce.
The German and the American tussled for the next few points as the score kept returning to deuce. Eventually, Stephens earned another break point and she took it when Kerber hit a backhand wide.
Now the match really was over as the American breezed through a love hold to clinch her place in the semi-final.
